Apple forced to explain inflammable iPods

The Japanese government is calling the maker of broken dreams Apple into its office to explain what Jobs' Mob calls a design feature which makes its iPod Nano catch fire. It seems that the Japanese fall to understand that Apple makes expensive broken toys for idiots and an iPod Nano which overheats and catches fire is exactly what fanboys will queue up to buy.

Nevertheless, according to AP, Japan's industry ministry has ordered Apple to report on measures it will take to prevent this feature from happening.

Since 2005 there have been 27 incidents involving Nano's catching fire. These included six where firefighters hand to be called. Four people burned themselves after they touched the device, which had overheated during charging.

The Japanese ministry has repeatedly asked Apple Japan to take measures, such as giving warnings or recalling the products. However Steve Jobs seems to be telling them that Apple is above consumer laws and told them to go forth and multiply.

The Japanese Government have given Jobs a list of information that it wants, including any data that Jobs might have collected about flambéing iPods in other countries and report back.

We suspect after a number of years of the Japanese doing nothing, Apple feels that threats from the government are toothless. Normally when in a tight spot like this Apple will blame its partners, users, rivals or the dog for its problems. In this case it can't be bothered. Apple's argument is that when you make a lot of stuff, a small number of them are going to go wrong, overheat, catch fire and kill the cat.

Of course that does not explain the iPhone 4, which does not work if you hold it in the wrong hand, and has a dodgy screen. Or the Magical iPad which overheats when exposed to daylight. It seems that just because something is expensive, you do not get what you pay for.